Balance of Power: The Politics, Policies and People

2018 is a big election year in Ohio. There are five statewide offices, all currently held by Republicans that are up for grabs, including governor. Ohio's lone statewide elected Democrat, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is up for reelection. There are two open U.S. House seats, including one in Northeast Ohio. And then, there's statewide legislative races and the possibility Ohio residents will be facing two ballot questions on how the state draws its congressional districts.

Stay connected with the latest on politics, policies and people making the decisions at all levels affecting your lives.

Parma Safety Director and former Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley has officially launched his campaign to unseat incumbent Prosecutor Tim McGinty. They’ll face-off in the March Democratic primary. O’Malley says he wants to restore public confidence in the office that he says McGinty has lost, especially with his handling of the Tamir Rice case. WKSU’s Kevin Niedermier reports.

Sen. Rob Portman voted for a bill this week that would halt Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the U.S. until better screening is in place. WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia reports.

The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act – or SAFE – would have required Homeland Security and the FBI to certify each refugee as not being a security threat to the U.S. It passed the House last year. It was blocked in the Senate on Wednesday.

Sen. Portman says the U.S. can still help the refugees by providing better conditions in their camps, and by establishing a “no-fly” zone over Syria.

The second-in-command in the Ohio Senate announced he’s retiring at the end of the month. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow reports.

Republican Senator Chris Widener of Springfield has served in the Ohio General Assembly for more than two decades. He got his start in the House before moving into the Senate and rising to rank of President Pro Tempore.

Widener was chair of the Senate Finance Committee and oversaw two budgets through his chamber.